The Ultimate Blender Quiz

From making scrumptious smoothies to savory salad dressings, a blender is a handy appliance, but its use extends far beyond the kitchen. How much do you know about this celebrated margarita-making machine?

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Question 1 of 20

Why were blenders first invented?

to make prescribed malted milk drinks

Blenders were first introduced in the early 1900s to make malted milk drinks prescribed by doctors.

to crush ice

to quench the thirst of soldiers in battle

Question 2 of 20

What was the first nonmedical use of blenders?

Homeowners used blenders to make creamy soups.

Industries employed blenders for making sauce mixes.

Soda fountains used them for making ice cream concoctions.

Soda fountains began using blenders for whizzing up novelty ice cream drinks.

Question 3 of 20

When did the blender become a popular kitchen appliance?

the 1960s

the 1910s

the 1930s

The blender gained popularity in the 1930s as an essential cocktail mixer.

Question 4 of 20

What's one purpose for blenders in research labs?

to mix chemicals

to allow hungry researchers easy access to smoothies

to extract bacteria from samples

Blenders are truly versatile appliances. Researchers use blenders in the lab to extract bacteria from samples.

Question 5 of 20

What was the first vaccine to be developed using a blender?

mumps vaccine

polio vaccine

Jonas Salk used a Waring blender in the development of the polio vaccine.

tuberculosis vaccine

Question 6 of 20

What component of the blender is housed in the base?

the lid

the motor

The base of the blender, also known as the housing unit, contains of a variety of parts, including a high-speed, fan-cooled electric motor.

the jar

Question 7 of 20

What device controls the movement and speed of a blender?

the motor

the coupler

The coupler, which connects to the motor, controls the movement and speed of a blender.

the jar nut

Question 8 of 20

What may happen if you don't put the lid on a blender while using it?

Nothing -- all your yummy ingredients will stay in the blender.

Food is likely to coat your walls and ceiling.

Have a soapy rag on hand if you don't put the lid on a blender while using it. If the blender is full and you turn it on, you will likely cause a mess.

The blender won't start.

Question 9 of 20

Why are blender jars typically tapered?

The shape funnels food down toward the blades.

The shape of a blender's jar doesn't simply look sleek; the tapered form promotes blending efficiency by funneling food down toward the blades.

The shape allows for easy removal of blended food.

It tricks your eye into thinking there is more food in the jar.

Question 10 of 20

The removable plastic piece in the top of a blender is called the fill cap. Which of the following is NOT one of the fill cap's purposes?

You can remove the fill cap to put more food in while the blender is on.

The fill cap can be used for measuring liquids when blending cocktails and other beverages.

The fill cap fits snugly against the inside of the blender jar to scrape out all the food.

The fill cap also should be removed from the lid to allow steam to escape when blending hot foods and liquids. If the steam has nowhere to go, you could be burned by a very hot food explosion!

Question 11 of 20

When a blender starts, in what direction does the food move in the blender jar?

a circular motion similar to a tornado

The circular motion, also known as a vortex, is similar to a tornado, only this tornado won't blow the roof off your house!

an up-and-down motion

a side-to-side motion

Question 12 of 20

Why do most blenders have four blades positioned at different angles?

It makes the blender look more efficient.

It promotes maximum contact between food and blades.

Four blades positioned at different angles promote maximum contact between the food and the blades. This design can make cleaning the blades a pain at times.

Blenders can't function with fewer than four blades.

Question 13 of 20

What is the typical power rating of a home blender?

between 100 and 300 watts

between 300 and 500 watts

between 500 and 750 watts

Most household blenders range from 500 to 750 watts. Don't be fooled though -- wattage and blender efficiency are generally not correlated.

Question 14 of 20

What is an immersion blender uniquely suited for?

blending food directly in the pot after it's cooked

An immersion blender, also called a stick blender or a hand blender, is a wand-shaped device with a small blade at the bottom. It's often sold with attachments for grinding small amounts of food such as nuts and garlic.

crushing very large chunks of ice

juicing citrus fruit

Question 15 of 20

What determines a blender's performance?

the power generated by the motor

The power generated by the motor determines blender performance. Unfortunately, companies only list the watts for power consumption, which is irrelevant for a blender's actual efficiency.

the power consumed by the motor

the sharpness of the blades

Question 16 of 20

What is the recommended number of blender controls?

three

Foodies say that three-speed blenders are all that's needed, though you can find models that offer a seemingly infinite number of speeds.

five

seven

Question 17 of 20

When shopping for a blender, what features should you look for if you want to make smoothies?

The blender can make white snow out of ice.

If you want to make velvety, scrumptious smoothies, seek out reviews that mention whether the blender crushes ice efficiently into snow.

The blender has multiple functions specifically for smoothies.

The blender mixes ice cream well.

Question 18 of 20

How long should a blender last before the motor starts to slow down or break?

six months to a year

several years

A good blender motor should hang on for several years before it starts to slow down. Even though you may still have a functional 20-year-old blender, this typically isn't the norm.

more than 20 years

Question 19 of 20

Why might you consider buying a blender with a removable blade?

They're easier to clean than other models.

A blender with a removable blade is definitely easier to clean. However, blenders with nonremovable blades tend not to leak as often.

They're cheaper than other models.

They're the most efficient model.

Question 20 of 20

Why should you avoid buying a blender with push buttons?

The buttons may pop off.

These blender models are less efficient.

The buttons are hard to clean.

You may figure this one out only after buying a blender, but push buttons can be a pain to clean and can sometimes get stuck in one position.